Palmerston election: MacLeod and Chin‘s preferences show duo still working together

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GOLF club-wielding ex-mayor Robert MacLeod has named one-time successor Graeme Chin as his second preference for mayor in this weekend’s Palmerston elections.

Camera IconGraeme Chin is a candidate for the City of Palmerston.Picture: News Corp Australia, Keri Megelus

MacLeod resigned as mayor in 2012 after he was found guilty of assaulting his neighbours with a golf club during a heated argument, and then-alderman Mr Chin took over the top spot.

Mr Chin has also named MacLeod as his second preference, telling ratepayers to list the former mayor as ‘two’ when casting their vote.

“There are two experienced candidates running for mayor – I don’t consider that 18 months on council is adequate to being consider being experienced,” Mr Chin said.

“We will likely get a completely inexperienced group as aldermen – and a new group of senior executives.

“Either myself or Robert will be able to guide the new group.”

Mr Chin spent 16 years as an alderman before the 2012 election, and neither MacLeod or Mr Chin are running for alderman – both just putting their hands up for the top role.

Former Palmerston alderman Athina Pascoe-Bell, who was suspended in June 2017 while the NT Government investigated council for financial mismanagement, is listing Mr Chin and MacLeod as her bottom preferences.

Her second preference is former military man Mick Spick, who also listed Ms Pascoe Bell as ‘two’ on his how-to-vote cards.

Mr Spick said he simply listed the first four names on the ballot paper as ‘one-four’ in order as they appear.

“To be honest, it’s easier for people to do one, two, three, four,” he said. “I went with the basic model of who would support me, and who would support the people who are supporting me.”

“Rubbish Warrior” Trevor Jenkins and military historian Tom Lewis aren’t listing preferences – telling voters to rank them as ‘1’ but make their own choices for candidates two to seven.

“If I preference people from the old council it would almost seem like I was endorsing them – I thought I should leave it to people to make up their own minds,” he said. “There’s quite a few people out there saying we need new, fresh people on council.”

Dr Tom Lewis, a newcomer to local politics, was motivated to run after becoming disillusioned by decisions made previous representatives.